Podcast Summary: Max Politics with Lincoln Restler

Episode: Lincoln Restler on Making Government Work, the Streets Plan, & the Department of Community Safety
Date: March 6, 2026
Host: Ben Max
Guest: NYC Council Member Lincoln Restler (District 33, Brooklyn, Progressive Caucus, Contracts Committee Chair)

Episode Overview

This episode features a wide-ranging conversation with Council Member Lincoln Restler on how to make NYC government work better, the implementation and politics of the Streets Plan, pedestrianization and public space reforms, re-legalizing outdoor dining, the proposed Department of Community Safety, and high-stakes Brooklyn congressional races. Restler, a leader in NYC’s progressive politics, offers candid insights into the new Mamdani administration, council priorities, and what effective government demands.

1. The State of NYC Government & the Mamdani Era

Theme: Hope, optimism, and the need for rigorous, ethical city government after the “bumpy” Adams years.

• Restler describes the current moment as “really hopeful,” with “excitement and hopefulness around the leadership at City Hall.” (06:26)
• Praises Mayor Mamdani’s early months: strong appointments, better service delivery, responsiveness to emergencies.
• Contrasts with Eric Adams: “We had a mayor who had no interest in working with the City Council, where there was cronyism… More people were indicted than I can remember or count.” (07:39)
• The big challenge is “bring[ing] back ethics, competence, and partnership” between the council and the mayor (08:25).
• Restler identifies key areas of government dysfunction inherited from Adams—staffing crises in NYCHA, vacant supportive housing, deteriorating services.

Notable Quote

"There's a lot of work to do to bring back ethics to city government, to bring back competence to city government and partnership between the council and the mayor."
— Lincoln Restler (08:24)

2. Making City Government Work: Keys to Success

Theme: Values, personnel, measurable goals.

• “It starts with the mayor, the mayor laying out what the north stars of the administration are, what the values of his administration are… People who are joining the Mamdani administration… they know what this man believes in.” (10:16)
• Three keys: clear values, top-quality appointments, and “crisp, clear goals” with data and accountability (10:45)
• Restler credits the new administration for budget honesty, including revealing the $5B gap left by under-budgeting: “We’re not playing any more games. We’re putting these real costs on the table…” (16:01)
• Mamdani’s property tax hike is a “boogeyman,” a placeholder for negotiations with the state for more equitable tax policy (12:28).
• Critiques the “fuzzy math” and hiring freezes under Adams: “That is a horrible way to deliver the services that New Yorkers depend on.” (17:29)

Notable Quote

“Those are the three key pieces, in my opinion. It’s values, it’s talent and people and quality who can manage in a rigorous way, and having the right, crisp, clear goals that you’re working toward.”
— Lincoln Restler (10:45)

3. The NYC Streets Plan & Restler’s Vision for Public Space

Theme: Oversight, ambitious expansion, pedestrianization, and political will.

a) Streets Plan Oversight Hearing (18:20 - 21:25)

• Restler critical of DOT’s performance under Adams: “Just over 55%, 57% of their goals around protected bike lanes and bus lanes… totally inadequate.” (19:41)
• Applauds new DOT Commissioner Flynn’s willingness for accountability, and Chair Shawn Abreu for strong oversight.
• Denounces Adams’ tendency to blame council for delays: “These projects don’t require council approval. These projects need to move forward.” (20:58)
• Affirms pressing DOT for a “dozen projects” in District 33.

Notable Quote

"The Adams administration just utterly failed... We are expecting [the new DOT] to do dramatically better moving forward."
— Lincoln Restler (19:41)

b) Member Deference and Community Engagement (21:42)

• Supports engaging local reps for project feedback, not for obstruction.
• “Community engagement… is not to kill projects, it’s to inform projects and make them more effective and well designed.” (22:17)
• Failure under Adams was due to lack of political will: “We must do better.” (22:59)

c) Bus Lanes, Biking, and Pedestrianization (23:34 - 27:48)

• Bus infrastructure most behind; urgent need to speed up commutes in bus-dependent communities.
• Personally bikes for efficiency: “I’d love to be on the bus…but I can’t afford to move that slowly.” (24:38)
• Pushes for collaboration with DOT, more responsiveness, and better bureaucracy under Commissioner Flynn (25:35).
• Stresses importance of walking: “We don’t focus nearly enough on the primary way that New Yorkers get around, which is walking.” (26:22)
• Proposes a million new square feet of pedestrian space annually—a “key third stool” of the plan.

Notable Quote

“We focus a lot on bikes and buses. We don't focus nearly enough on...walking...there just isn't space for pedestrians to get where they need to go because it's far too congested.”
— Lincoln Restler (26:22)

d) Expanding Pedestrian Mandates (27:54)

• Noted Streets Plan only included pedestrian targets for the first two years—Restler’s bill would restore and grow these metrics.

4. Public Space, Outdoor Dining, and Parking Reform

Theme: Reimagining street use for fairness and quality of life.

a) Outdoor Dining Reform (29:52 - 32:05)

• Advocates for re-legalizing full year-round street dining, lamenting rules that decimated COVID-era outdoor dining: “At the height of COVID, there were 8,000 restaurants...now...400...it’s pathetic.” (31:17)
• Praises support from Speaker Menon and the administration; expects reforms to pass.

b) Tackling Placard Abuse & Illegal Parking (32:26 - 37:28)

• Restler calls parking placard abuse “petty corruption,” impacting “basic safety” and mobility (33:41).
• Outlines two bills: (1) abolishing most placards, (2) citizen enforcement—send a photo, get a ticket issued (34:53).
• Pushes for more camera enforcement, clean streets, less corruption.

Notable Quote

“There’s just no reason for [placards]...why do we allow that same city worker to put a real or fake placard in their dashboard and then park their car wherever they want illegally? It doesn’t make any sense.”
— Lincoln Restler (35:27)

5. The Department of Community Safety Proposal

Theme: Rethinking public safety—holistic, preventive, and less police-dominated.

a) Legislative Background (38:19 - 42:47)

• Restler proposed this before Mamdani’s campaign but aligned closely with the mayor’s priorities.
• Three main goals:
  1. Rapid response to nonviolent crises, de-escalation, connecting people to services.
  2. Proactive interventions, especially for mental health.
  3. Oversight/support for violence intervention (Cure Violence/Crisis Management System).
• Calls for a permanent department via legislation, not just an executive order.

b) Partnership with Administration (42:00)

• Coordinating closely with mayoral team; bill aims to provide authorizing legislation for mayor’s priorities.
• Envisions phased implementation: mayoral office now, full department via City Council and charter change (42:47).

c) Operations, Challenges, and Alignment (44:03 - 48:12)

• Sees little substantive difference between bill and mayor’s plan (“I’m not aware of any major areas of disagreement at this time.” (43:53))
• Identifies Be Heard program as a model to expand.
• Notes support even from NYPD leaders, who want to focus on violent crime, not social services or quality of life calls.
• Envisions working out operational details, especially 911 response, to ensure “if somebody represents a potential threat to others, the police have to be meaningfully, centrally involved.” (47:32)
• Stresses collaboration and decision-tree approaches for dispatchers.

Notable Quotes

“There’s so much opportunity for growth...if the mayor was to...expand Be Heard to every precinct...that would be a game changer overnight.”
— Lincoln Restler (44:23)

“If somebody represents a potential threat to others, the police have to be meaningfully, centrally involved in the response."
— Lincoln Restler (47:32)

d) Next Steps for the Department (49:42 - 51:14)

• Expects a hearing before summer (aim: by end of June), mayoral leadership appointment, pilot implementation through funding in executive budget.
• Restler’s bill includes 24/7 offices in each borough; expects negotiation and possible revisions.

6. Brooklyn Congressional Politics: NY-7 & NY-10 Primaries

Theme: Highly competitive, high-stakes races, aligned with progressive causes.

a) NY-7: Velasquez Succession & Antonio Reynoso (53:08 - 57:03)

• Restler passionate about supporting Reynoso, credits Rep. Velasquez for building a legacy and mentorship.
• “Antonio is the right person to continue Nydia’s legacy...He is deeply rooted in this community. The son of a home health aide...spent his whole life giving back to the community.” (54:40)
• Expects North Brooklyn votes to be decisive, with unions and progressive leaders backing Reynoso; DSA supports Claire Valdez; and broad coalition with WFP and current officials.
• “This is basically, you know, all of the progressive leaders on one side and DSA on the other, and every labor union except for one...has endorsed Antonio Reynoso.” (56:43)

b) NY-10: Brad Lander vs. Dan Goldman (57:03 - 59:22)

• Restler supports Lander: “His entire council seat is in this congressional [district]...every local elected official...is endorsing Brad Lander against a sitting member of Congress.” (58:27)
• Values alignment is key: “I trust Brad’s values...I know that he’s championing the causes that matter to me and to my constituents. And look, I want a congressman who’s a good partner for my district and for my office.” (59:22)
• Notes Israel/Gaza stances are a difference, but says alignment/trust matter most.

c) Political Futures: Brooklyn Borough President (60:44)

• Pressed on whether he’d consider running if Reynoso wins and BP seat opens: “I imagine that every member of the Brooklyn delegation...will be looking at that opportunity... My singular focus right now is making sure that Antonio wins.” (60:44)

7. Additional Topics Touched On

• Council’s new appeal board for land use–Restler supported 2 of 3 charter amendments, wants to wait and see on impacts (62:20).
• Promises future deep-dive episodes on contract oversight, including jail contracts and city procurement.

Key Timestamps

• Big Picture on City Government: 06:26 - 11:33
• Budget Gaps and Honesty: 11:33 - 18:20
• Streets Plan Oversight & Public Space Legislation: 18:20 - 29:14
• Outdoor Dining & Placard Abuse: 29:52 - 37:28
• Department of Community Safety: 37:28 - 51:14
• Brooklyn Congressional Races: 53:08 - 60:44
• Brief on Borough President’s Race & Wrap-Up: 60:44 - 63:09

Memorable Quotes

1. On Adams Era:
   “More people were indicted than I can remember or count. And there’s a lot of work to do to bring back ethics to city government…” (07:39)

2. On Government Performance:
   “We’re not playing any more games. We’re putting these real costs on the table for all New Yorkers to see so that we understand the actual expenses…” (16:01)

3. On Public Space Reform:
   “At the height of COVID there were 8,000 restaurants around New York City that had roadway dining permits. You know, right now...I think there’s 400.” (31:17)

4. On Parking Placards:
   “It’s just petty corruption...many more people are using fake placards that they printed themselves or a construction vest that they bought off Amazon and stuck in the dashboard.” (34:43)

5. On Community Safety Reform:
   “If somebody represents a potential threat to others, the police have to be meaningfully, centrally involved in the response.” (47:32)

Takeaways

• Restler is hopeful about city government’s new leadership, but sees immense work ahead.
• Improved management, transparency, and ethical rigor are essential for real progress.
• Street and public space reform—bus lanes, bike lanes, pedestrianization—remain high-stakes political and quality of life battles.
• Modernizing public safety means shifting some responsibilities away from police to new professionals, but with nuanced coordination.
• Brooklyn’s congressional politics are sharply contested, with major implications for the city’s progressive future.

For listeners interested in governance, urban policy, and the future of progressive politics in NYC, this episode is both a primer and a call to civic engagement.